Juni
Li

Biography

Jun Li studied BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear at LCF, before going on to set up his own menswear label, focusing on tailoring and cut.

Interview

Could you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you’re doing now?

I was born in 1991 and grew up in Shanghai. Currently I'm focusing on running my own menswear label JUNLI.

Why did you choose to study at LCF?

It was a decision based on research. I wanted to get a decent step-by-step menswear training.

How did you find the teaching?

It's important that you learn the system and the method. After that you will find your own way to create. It’s also very practical and hands-on. There’s a building full of special machines waiting for you to develop your ideas with.

What skills did you learn on the course and continue to use today?

How to research and develop your ideas. And how to make it happen.

What were the biggest challenges?

Finding the balance. You want to archive something that breaks the line and at the same time you also have to solve the technical problem it brings.

You have gone on to set up your own label in Shanghai. How has that been?

It was more like a capsule project in the beginning that I started during my second year in school. But now we have a fully equipped atelier to support everything I want to make. Setting up the studio took a long time, but building a label is a long journey and I accept that.

You’ve just presented your SS17 collection. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the collection?

It's influenced by Anselm Kiefer’s installation work; imaging being in an after-scene of a raging storm, a silent shock of destruction piercing right through the witness’s heart. The thought behind is the power to recreate.

The JUNLI aesthetic, explores the boundaries of tailoring. What drew you to this aspect of fashion?

The ideal JUNLI man is silent, sharp, and sophisticated. He is not loud, or obvious. Temperament comes from within, so tailoring is the soul of a garment, and structure and detail make the difference. The idea of exploring an invisible, sometimes whispering, boundary in tailoring excites me.

What advice would you give to people thinking about studying BA Fashion Design Technology: Menswear?

Learn and try as much as you can from every project before your final year, then you will find what you want and which direction you will take in the end.